The spirit of sacrifice

The celebration of Eid-ul-Azha today with traditional religious fervour, is marked by sacrifice of animals in the way of Allah, as sanctified by the tradition of the Holy Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH). It is a demonstration of the believers' sense of abiding gratitude to Almighty Allah. However, it is common knowledge that this Islamic festival of sacrifice basically revolves around commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's unhesitating submission to the Divine Command for sacrifice of his own son in the way of the Creator. But after running his knife blindfolded, across the throat of his son, he was stunned to find that what he had actually killed was not his son but a lamb.
The unique manifestation of total devotion to God's Will, later celebrated by the followers of Hazrat Ibrahim with animal sacrifice, marked a turning point in human history.
For it marked an end to the savage practice of human sacrifice, which had prevailed down the ages as a way of pleasing the man-made gods, goddesses and deities, but actually aimed at ruthless suppression and exploitation by the powerful, condemning their innocent subjects to serve their personal and political interests.
The weak and defenceless were traditionally enslaved through wanton aggression and those offering resistance or found unfit to serve, including the aged, children and women, were killed, often collectively, at the altar of fake gods by way of sacrifice.
As such, the example of genuine sacrifice to the Creator that Prophet Ibrahim set, marked the beginning of a new epoch in which humanity was blessed with a distinct and unmistakable comprehension of the mercy and power of its real Creator. Needless to point out, Muslims for whom his sacrifice was made obligatory, have every reason to observe it with a sense of devotion and gratitude.
That the Muslims, thanks to the blessings of the Benevolent and Merciful Allah, have remained whole-heartedly committed to fulfilling His command, is fully reflected in their impassioned prayers, year after year, on this occasion, for forgiveness for their individual and collective sins of omission and commission.
This has reference to increasing awareness of the Muslims the world over, of the dangerous infection of their minds and behaviour from the sway of irreligious ideas and influences, including the spread of terrorism originating from ill-conceived pretensions of Islamic revival, often engineered by the very forces hostile to Islam.
This refers to the variously unacceptable social, political and cultural behaviour, including religious and sectarian intolerance and violence. That these venomous influences have continued making their way into the Muslim societies in dubious ways, and gaining ghastlier dimensions, is undoubtedly a genuine cause of alarm. Needless to point out, the other dimension of this predicament also reminds one of the unwarranted way in which we have been celebrating the festival of sacrifice too.
For according to genuine perception during recent years, the days of sacrifice bring into evidence indiscriminate waste of the country's wealth in livestock, while also endangering environmental safety.
Although quite some improvement has resulted from enlightened approach of many individuals and associations, bigger efforts need be made by the religious scholars and community leaders, of course, with the willing support of the government, to curb exhibitionism and diversion of precious resources from the pious way of extending succour to the needy in the true spirit of sacrifice.